Scammers in South Florida are exploiting pet owners with missing animals, prompting warnings from local authorities and organizations. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay has alerted pet owners about a scam where fraudsters contact them, demanding large sums of money for supposed surgeries via online banking apps. Additionally, social media is being used as a platform for these scams, leading to concerns from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about broader fraudulent activities. Representative Gus Bilirakis has also cautioned residents to be vigilant against these scams targeting Floridians.